N'waswitshaka males

[Tonpa]

Ndzhenga Males

June 2023

Statistically, we are recording fewer sightings of these males than in previous months; this can be attributed to the fact that they are now a smaller coalition and are spending more time together than separately. 

Noteworthy sightings: 
• One male was with two lionesses south of Styx Crossing on the 2nd. 
• Both males were west of West Street on the 6th. 
• Four Kambula lionesses joined the Ndhzenga males south of Styx Rocks on the 10th. 
• The males roared in unison at Flockfield Lookout on the 17th. 
• On the 18th, they were the catalysts in a family feud with the Kambula lionesses when they stole the pride’s wildebeest kill south of the Airstrip. 
• Both males were with a group of females and cubs at Hyena Waterhole on the 21st. 
• One male was alone at the Windsock on the 24th. 
• On the 25th, the Ndhzenga males were alone at Hyena Waterhole. 
• One male gave guests an unparalleled show when he entered the gates of Rattray’s Camp in pursuit of the remains of a kill made by Cape hunting dogs earlier on the morning of the 27th. 
• On the last day of the month, the dominant males were around Styx Crossing. 

July 2023

The Ndhzenga males were seen consistently this month, once again spending 13 of their 18 sightings with the members of the Kambula pride. They seem to be defending their territory successfully as a coalition of two, keeping the Black Dam males at bay in the north, but with the ever-looming threat of the Nkuhlu males coming up from the south, tides could change.

 Noteworthy sightings: 
• They were seen with the bulk of the Kambula pride on the 5th and 6th on the eastern banks of the Sand River, feeding off a buffalo kill (see the section on the Kambula Pride for a full report). 
• They spent time with the five lionesses and nine cubs of the Kambula pride along the Sand River, at West Street Bridge on the 14th and at Bicycle Crossing on the 27th . 
• On the 17th, they spent time with another two members of the Kambula pride and the three youngest cubs east of Plank’s Pan and, later, on the 26th at the Causeway. 
• On the 22nd, they were with the same members as above but were seen to be mating with one of the lionesses near the Causeway. 
• One of the males was mating again with the same lioness at Manyeleti Crossing on the 27th . 
• On the 31st, one of the males stole an impala carcass from a hyena, who had stolen it from a leopard (see section on the Split Rock male). 

August 2023

The two Ndhzenga males had their work cut out for them this month as they spent much of their time patrolling territory and moving large distances daily. There were several sightings of them with the Kambula pride and their thriving offspring. On more than one occasion, they chased the Northern Avoca male and some of his sons from the Nkuhuma pride. As these young males grow in confidence and venture further south into Ndhzenga male territory, the two dominant males will have to cover more ground to keep the young males honest. 

Noteworthy sightings: 
• On the 5th, they joined three lionesses and three cubs of the Kambula pride on a kudu kill in the Sand River in front of MalaMala Camp. 
• On the 15th and 16th, they were in the Manyeleti River east of Kigelia Crossing with three members of the Kambula Pride. 
• They were near West Street Bridge from the 17th and 18th before moving south towards the area of Zebra Skull on the 19th . 
• On the 21st, they stole a buffalo carcass from the Nkuhuma Pride and the Northern Avoca male at Buffalo Bush Dam. 
• On the 26th, they fed on a hippopotamus carcass east of Matumi Rocks with three females from the Kambula pride. 
• On the 28th, they stumbled on the Northern Avoca male and four young males from the Nkuhuma pride finishing off a buffalo kill at Emsagwen Waterhole. They proceeded to chase them further east and presumably far enough out of their territory as they were back in the Sand River north of West Street Bridge with the Kambula pride the following day Reply